The Celts
Animals in Celtic culture
Big animal statues from one piece of wood found in Fellbach Schmiden, Germany, and possible depiction of the remaining part that didn’t preserve. Year 127 BC. Source: http://www.zum.de/Faecher/G/BW/Landeskunde/schwaben/museen/landesmuseum_wttg/mw_fruehgeschichte.htm
Three bronze animal figurines found in Staré Hradisko, Přísnotice, Czech Republic. Source:… Continue reading
Celtic coinage and rainbow cups
Mounted Goddess with oval shield depicted on the reverse of a Celtic gold stater from the Rennes Region, Brittany (2nd century BC). Source: http://balkancelts.wordpress.com/tag/celtic-coins/
Use of coins was preceded by use of iron “hryvnia” of standard scales; in addition, barter… Continue reading
Oak – a sacred tree
„Gamble oak leaves“ – Photo by Cory Maylett – own photo, Nikon D70. Licenced under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons – http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gamble_oak_leaves.jpg#/media/File:Gamble_oak_leaves.jpg
Oak (Quercus in Latin) can be evergreen or deciduous (or its leaves wither but remain through… Continue reading
Celtic jewellery
The Celts were at their times masters in metalworking – be it gold, silver, iron or bronze – and in handcrafts. Particular ways of metal processing will be described in other posts; this will be on different categories of jewellery… Continue reading
How Bohemia gained its name
The Latin equivalent of the Czech name “Čechy” (one of three parts of the Czech Republic next to Moravia and Silesia) is “Bohemia”, originally “Boiohaemum”. This expression gave rise to other foreign language variants. But where does origin of this… Continue reading